The Minister of Higher Education, Science And Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande on the occasion of (1) The launch of the Science Diplomacy for Economic Development through Hydrogen Workshop Series, (2) The launch of the South African Green Hydrogen Technical and Vocational Education and Training Ecosystem Just Transition Strategic Framework, and (3) The opening of the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority Pan-African Skills Conference

Programme Director

Angola Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Ms Maria DO Rosario Braganca;

Executive Mayor of Saldana Bay, Mr Andre Truter;

High Commissioner of Britain, Mr Antony Phillipson;

Director General, JRC from the European Union, Mr Stephen Quest;

Director-General of Science and Innovation, Dr Phil Mjwara;

Director-General of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi;

Deputy Director’s General present from both my Departments;

My Advisors;

Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) Accounting Authority (AA) Chairperson, Ms Wezi Khoza;CHIETA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Yershen Pillay;

Boards and CEOs of other state entities;

Members of the diplomatic community;

Representatives of industry and academia;

All government employees present;

Friends and Partners;

Distinguished guests;

Members of the media;

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning

It gives me great pleasure today to address three linked events, all related to my ministerial mandate.

Today, I will be talking some key hydrogen matters contributing to South Africa's quest for a just energy transition, namely –

• the launch of a series of round tables on science diplomacy for economic development through hydrogen;

• the Green Hydrogen Technical and Vocational Education and Training Ecosystem Just Transition Strategic Framework; and

• the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority Pan-African Skills Conference.

Today's events build on the Green Hydrogen Summit held last Tuesday, which was the first summit on green hydrogen in Africa and was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

According to the recently released Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, South Africa will require $98 billion over the next five years to enable a just transition and achieve its ambitious emission-reduction targets.

The plan, on which consultation continues, forms the basis for South Africa's pathway towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient society, and identifies green hydrogen as one of four areas with huge growth and investment potential.

I would like to highlight here that the focus will be on green hydrogen exports, electrolyser and fuel cell production, and the manufacture of green steel, sustainable aviation fuel, ammonia, fertilizers and renewable energy components.

It is estimated that South Africa has the potential to produce between six and 13 million tons of green hydrogen and derivatives a year by 2050.

This is a huge production figure that will require anything between 140 and 300 gigawatts of renewable energy. Needless to say, South Africa is blessed with abundant renewable energy resources – both solar and wind.

A just energy transition requires even closer collaboration between industrial companies, innovative small and medium enterprises, training and schooling facilities, financial institutes, investment partners and governments.

Undoubtedly, if we can align the various roles, needs and opportunities we can accelerate the transition.

Collaboration between companies, knowledge institutions and provincial governments is vital, as is collaboration with neighbouring countries like Namibia and other international partners like the European Union, the United Kingdom and Japan, among many others.

If we indeed work together, we can speed up the energy transition and make the hydrogen economy a reality in the near future.

DSI role in the green hydrogen economy

Most of you are aware that my Ministry, particularly through the Department of Science and Innovation, has been at the forefront of exploring ways in which South Africa can play a significant role in the green hydrogen economy.

In 2007, the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Research, Development and Innovation Strategy was published, and this led to the national flagship programme Hydrogen South Africa, usually referred to as HySA.

More recently, in October 2021, a feasibility study commissioned by the Department of Science and Innovation identified three hubs – Mogalakwena in Limpopo, Johannesburg in Gauteng and Durban and Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal – with potential to be part of South Africa's first hydrogen valley.

In February this year, I officially launched South Africa's Hydrogen Society Roadmap, which identifies the need for South Africa to forge international partnerships and market South Africa as a preferred research and investment destination for green hydrogen and ammonia.

Series of round tables on science diplomacy for economic development through hydrogen

Ladies and gentlemen

Today, I am very happy to officially launch another of the Department of Science and Innovation's forward-looking and pragmatic initiatives – a series of round tables on science diplomacy for economic development through hydrogen.

Driven by DSI in partnership with Stellenbosch University, Durban University of Technology and Impact Hydrogen, an international partner and front-runner in the development of hydrogen valleys, the science diplomacy initiative seeks to support the Hydrogen Society Roadmap through a series of local and international thought and action-provoking workshops.

One of the Hydrogen Society Roadmap's objectives is to obtain a clear understanding of hydrogen as an energy carrier, as well as achieving a commitment to producing clean hydrogen in a way that is socially just and sensitive to the potential impacts of change on jobs and local economies.

I was pleased to learn that the inaugural science diplomacy round table, which started yesterday, was themed "Hydrogen as a lever for social justice".

The workshop is showcasing hydrogen valleys from our partners in Europe, Britain and Japan, and engaging local and international stakeholders in discussions around hydrogen value chains, financing, policy and regulation, as well as socio-economic impact.

Although the first workshop ends today, there are seven more lined up for next year, including in the Netherlands, where the European Union is building its first hydrogen valley.

In March we will be talking trade relations in Tokyo, and in September we will be in Brussels discussing education, financing and policy frameworks, among other things.

In South Africa, three more workshops will be held focusing on hydrogen and the youth, women in green hydrogen, and hydrogen and regional prosperity.

Thank you to all those who helped make the first round table a fruitful one. May your engagements have tangible outcomes.

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and green hydrogen economy

Ladies and Gentlemen

We obviously need skills for the green hydrogen economy. As a country, South Africa has always recognised the importance of skills development in rectifying the inequities of the past, allowing meaningful economic participation and restoring people's dignity.

Last week, President Ramaphosa's state visit to the United Kingdom reaffirmed the UK government's intention to support South Africa's plans to develop a green hydrogen sector.

The UK's Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) programme has already contributed to our hydrogen economy by sharing knowledge towards the development of South Africa's Hydrogen Society Roadmap.

UK PACT has also funded studies on the employment opportunities and skills needed for South Africa's green hydrogen economy. One such study resulted in the "Green Hydrogen TVET Ecosystem Just Transition Strategic Framework" that we are launching today.

Our Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are valuable tools for socio-economic transformation, which is perhaps more important now than ever before.

The great acceleration in science, technology and innovation has left educational systems scrambling to respond to rapidly changing and uncertain learning environments. At the same time, science, technology and innovations are powerful drivers of change, and vital for building a sustainable, resilient and inclusive economy.

In transitioning to a just and inclusive green hydrogen economy, the TVET ecosystem needs to cultivate transversal skills, develop a knowledge commons for skills, and create an enabling, collaborative environment to address global shifts and local challenges.

The South African Green Hydrogen TVET Ecosystem Just Transition Strategic Framework is a key enabler in the implementation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan and provides the foundation for future policy interventions needed to transform the TVET skills development ecosystem and train large numbers of green artisans and technicians.

TVET colleges have the potential to empower young people and to support established workers making the transition into the green labour market.

In this way, the TVET ecosystem can play a pivotal role in the rapid expansion of renewable energy production and South Africa's move from fossil fuel-based economic dependency.

I am confident that the effective implementation of this Green Hydrogen TVET Ecosystem Just Transition Strategic Framework will re-establish the TVET ecosystem and facilitate stronger partnerships between government, the private sector and civil society.

We will need to improve gender equality and social inclusion through work-integrated learning, and systems for skills anticipation and matching.

We will also need to accelerate the establishment of a hybrid model for TVET centres of specialisation, which will enable increased flexibility and improve the return on skills development investments.

Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority's Pan-African Hydrogen Economy Skills Conference

It is essential to understand the skills required to bring about sustainable, green economic growth and development.

In its efforts to create an integrated post-school education and training sector, the government acknowledges the centrality of industry in skills development and I am glad that the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority's Pan-African Hydrogen Economy Skills Conference is focused on the "Industry Perspectives, Experiences and Skills required for the Hydrogen Economy."

CHIETA, the education and training authority for the chemical industries, has in recent years repositioned itself to innovate for impact.

An intervention such as this conference will enable CHIETA to continue taking stock of its strategies and assessing its ability to deliver on skills development for sustainable livelihoods, as well as allowing the authority to provide leadership on skills development for the hydrogen economy.

As always, collaboration and partnerships are essential for success. I am pleased to note the collaboration of CHIETA and the Department of Science and Innovation with partners such as Impact Hydrogen from the Netherlands, the South African National Energy Institute, Durban University of Technology, the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies at Stellenbosch University and, more recently, the National Business Initiative.

These partnerships have brought about the three related events I am speaking to, all of which resonate with the White Paper on Post-School Education and Training's emphasis on partnerships for building an expanded, effective and integrated post school system.

I therefore would like to officially open the CHIETA Pan-African Skills Conference by thanking the many stakeholders who have made time to continue the skills revolution for the green hydrogen economy, especially the CHIETA Board and CEO.

In conclusion, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Director-Generals of Science and Innovation and Higher Education and Training and their teams, who have worked closely together to ensure that the skills developed for the country match the technology and innovations being produced.

I also would like to thank all the delegates to this important conference.

I wish you a productive and fruitful conference and I am looking forward to receive this conference report and recommendations.

Source: Government of South Africa